V 


^ 


PAW. 
t.  AMER. 

Survey  of  Mexico,  Panama, 
South  America,  Europe 
(exce  pt  I taly),  and  China 


By 

HOMER  C.  STUNTZ 

First  Assistant  Corresponding  Secretary 


Presented  to  the  General  Committee  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  November  lo,  1909 


BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

OF  THE 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

150  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/surveyofmexicopaOOstun 


of  Mexico,  Panama,  Sooth  America,  Europe 
Italy),  and  China 

By  First  Assistant  Corresponding  Secretary  Homer  C.  Stuntz 

This  survey  may  well  begin  with  a note  of  gratitude.  While  the 
year  under  review  has  been  characterized  by  severe  financial  limitations, 
causing  the  greatest  embarrassment  and  serious  overwork  to  many 
missionaries,  yet  great  blessing  from  God  has  rested  upon  all  the 
fields.  The  total  reports  of  conversions  and  accessions  are  not  yet  in 
hand,  but  the  general  impression  which  has  been  derived  from  cor- 
respondence coming  to  the  office  is  that  more  souls  have  been  gathered 
into  the  kingdom  than  in  any  other  year  of  our  work.  The  splendid 
devotion  of  the  men  and  women  who  represent  us  over  all  these  wide 
areas  should  call  forth  the  deepest  gratitude  from  all  our  hearts.  These 
workers,  underpaid,  crying  out  desperately  for  reenforcements  which 
we  are  unable  to  send  them,  standing  face  to  face  with  opportunities 
affecting  the  future  of  republics  and  empires,  often  at  the  risk  of  their 
own  lives,  have  held  our  banner  aloft  throughout  another  year,  endur- 
ing hardness  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

MEXICO 

Steady  progress  has  been  made  in  Mexico.  The  missionaries  have 
been  maintaining  a concerted  plan  of  intercessory  prayer  for  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  upon  the  work.  At  the  Conference  session  these 
meetings  were  full  of  real  power  and  blessing.  There  has  been  no 
unusual  revival  manifestation  but  a steady  and  healthful  growth.  Sev- 
eral priests  have  inquired  the  way  of  salvation,  at  least  one  of  whom 
has  given  good  evidence  of  having  been  truly  converted.  Perhaps  the 
most  outstanding  feature  of  the  year’s  work  has  been  the  completion 
of  our  school  buildings  in  Puebla.  These  are  to  be  dedicated  at  the 
time  of  the  next  Conference  session.  These  are  said  to  be  the  finest 
school  buildings  erected  by  any  mission  in  Mexico. 

Mexico  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $57,675 ; for  property,  $1,225  > 
a total  of  $58,900.  They  ask  this  year,  $97,701,  of  which  $10,840  is 
asked  for  new  property  and  $1,000  for  one  new  missionary.  Our 
unembership  in  Mexico  is  5,860. 

SOUTH  AMERICA 
North  Ancles 

Panama  : 

This  has  been  the  most  satisfactory  year  of  our  work  in  Panama  and 
the  Canal  Zone.  Brother  W.  W.  Gray  has  completed  his  first  year, 
and  Brother  Charles  W.  Ports  two  years  in  the  work,  and  every  inter- 
est under  their  care  shows  the  efficiency  of  their  labors.  The  member- 
ship of  our  church  for  Americans  has  more  than  doubled.  The  con- 
gregations are  from  three  to  four  times  as  large  as  they  were  last 
year.  Funds  have  been  raised  on  the  field  to  nearly  complete  the 

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Survey  of  the  Fields 


new  mission  building,  to  insure  it,  to  repair  the  sea  wall  which  has  been 
breached,  and  to  put  in  the  furnishings  for  both  the  school  and  the 
church.  The  Sunday  school  is  in  a healthful  condition,  and  much 
preaching  has  been  done  up  and  down  the  line  of  the  Canal.  Brother 
Ports  having  been  appointed  visiting  chaplain  of  the  Canal  Commission, 
has  been  able  to  give  much  of  his  time  during  the  closing  months  of 
the  year  to  Spanish  work,  for  which  his  long  experience  in  South 
America  and  Panama  has  peculiarly  fitted  him.  Our  missionaries 
there  have  had  a most  interesting  experience  during  the  year  with 
the  Indians,  of  whom  there  are  tens  of  thousands  in  Panama.  One  of 
the  Indian  chiefs  has  put  his  son  in  our  school,  and  others  contemplate 
doing  so.  The  school  has  continued  to  do  satisfactory  work,  and  there 
is  a tone  of  hopefulness  in  the  reports  which  is  exceedingly  gratifying. 

They  received  for  the  work  in  1909,  $2,500;  they  ask  for  1910, 
$4,400. 

Peru: 

The  North  Andes  Mission  has  passed  through  a year  of  trial.  The 
little  force  of  missionaries  in  Peru  has  been  seriously  crippled  by 
illness,  and  by  the  failure  of  the  appropriation  of  1909  to  provide  fully 
for  the  minimum  expense  of  maintaining  the  missionaries  already  on 
the  field.  A special  advance  of  $2,000  had  to  be  made  to  them  during 
the  year,  and  the  disposition  of  the  matter  referred  to  the  General 
Committee.  We  have  in  this  mission  as  fine  a force  of  workers  as 
in  any  mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  they  confront 
opportunities  so  rich  that  there  must  be  no  thought  of  retreat  at 
any  point  of  the  line. 

Peru  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $9,275;  they  ask  this  year  for 
the  work,  $12,950;  they  ask  for  new  property,  $10,500. 

Ecuador : 

The  first  active  persecution  which  Rev.  Harry  Compton,  our  mis- 
sionary in  Ecuador,  has  had  to  undergo,  came  from  a mob  which 
assaulted  himself,  Mrs.  Compton,  and  their  daughter,  in  a town  about 
eight  miles  from  Quito,  early  in  the  year.  Led  by  the  local  priests, 
they  assaulted  this  missionary  family  with  cries  of,  “Kill  the  Protes- 
tants, drive  out  the  infidels,  down  with  the  Free  Masons !”  The  wife 
and  daughter  were  placed  upon  ponies  with  saddle  girths  unfastened, 
and  the  horses  driven  down  over  the  steep  mountain  paths  leading 
out  of  the  town  where  the  mob  was  doing  its  work.  Fortunately,  their 
lives  were  all  saved.  The  State  Department  at  Washington  ordered 
our  consul  at  Quito  to  make  a careful  investigation,  and  from  that 
time  forward  there  has  been  perfect  freedom  from  violence.  Brother 
Compton  has  preached  regularly  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  in 
the  town  where  he  was  mobbed,  and  has  had  the  first  revival  which 
has  gladdened  his  heart  in  Ecuador.  Nearly  one  hundred  adults  have 
been  converted  and  received  into  our  church  since  last  Conference, 
but  one  Sunday  having  passed  without  some  one  seeking  and  finding 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


5 


the  Saviour.  There  is  every  indication  that  if  we  hold  steadily  on 
in  Ecuador,  we  shall  build  up  a self-reliant  Methodism  there. 

They  received  last  year  $4,025. 

Chile  Conference 

Chile ! 

Out  of  the  forty  missionaries  of  this  Board  in  Chile  twenty-nine  are 
employed  in  school  work.  A very  unsatisfactory  condition  exists 
regarding  the  salaries  of  these  teachers.  As  a part  of  the  inheritance 
left  us  by  the  self-supporting  work  on  the  West  Coast,  the  salaries  of 
the  teachers  are  paid  by  the  schools  and  thus  far  the  old  rate  of  $300 
and  $350  per  year,  with  board  and  lodging  furnished,  has  prevailed. 
The  salaries  of  those  engaged  in  evangelistic  or  press  work  has  been 
paid  on  the  regular  scale  in  South  America.  In  the  case  of  married 
couples  the  wife  is  not  paid  unless  she  teaches.  The  husband  can  only 
receive  the  salary  of  one  teacher — $350  with  board  and  room  for 
both.  Many  of  the  women  are  unable  to  teach  and  properly  discharge 
their  responsibilities  as  wives  and  mothers.  A petition  has  been  pre- 
pared by  the  Finance  Committee  of  this  mission  and  forwarded  to  the 
Board  of  Managers  asking  that  this  matter  be  remedied,  and  that 
provision  be  made  in  the  appropriations  that  all  missionaries  appointed 
under  this  Board  may  receive  the  same  salary.  Whether  our  financial 
condition  will  warrant  our  undertaking  this  program  this  year  or  not, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  must  be  done  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment.  The  secretary  is  frequently  unable. to  find  suitable  teachers 
for  our  schools  in  this  Conference  because  the  remuneration  is  as  stated 
above.  We  are  constantly  losing  those  who  have  already  entered  the 
work  because  they  live  upon  the  scanty  allowance  named. 

The  outstanding  propierty  event  of  the  year  in  the  mission  has  been 
the  carrying  toward  completion  of  the  new  school  buildings  of  the 
Colejio  Americano,  in  Concepcion.  A heavy  debt  has  been  contracted, 
but  Bishop  Bristol  assures  us  that  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the 
old  property  will  almost  entirely  liquidate  it.  The  Finance  Committee 
and  the  bishop  have  not  thought  it  advisable  thus  far  to  accept  any 
offer  which  has  been  made  for  the  very  valuable  site  and  buildings 
of  the  old  Colejio  Americano.  It  is  increasing  in  value  year  by  year. 
Meantime  the  rents  received  from  it  are  meeting  the  interest  charges 
on  the  debt  for  the  new  building. 

From  Valparaiso  come  reports  of  the  most  contradictory  character 
regarding  a revival  which  has  been  going  forward  in  our  church  at 
that  place  since  early  in  the  Conference  year.  Dr.  W.  C.  Hoover 
writes  that  several  of  his  members  arranged  for  whole  nights  of  prayer 
during  the  early  part  of  the  year,  and  that  as  a result  a glorious  revival 
is  in  progress.  Conflicting  reports  in  the  form  of  cablegrams  and 
letters  have  continued  to  reach  the  office  regarding  the  work  which 
has  gone  forward  in  Valparaiso.  Dr.  Hoover  claims  that  scores  have 
been  clearly  and  powerfully  converted  to  God,  many  of  whom  were 
abandoned  sinners.  Penitents  have  fallen  to  the  floor  and  remained 


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Survey  of  the  Fields 


rigid  for  longer  or  shorter  periods  of  time,  and  on  regaining  conscious- 
ness have  leaped  and  shouted,  rolling  upon  the  floor  and  causing  great 
excitement  in  the  services.  He  declares  that  in  spite  of  these  mani- 
festations, and  in  spite  of  the  claims  of  certain  converts  that  they  have 
been  endowed  with  “the  gift  of  tongues”  both  in  speaking  and  singing, 
and  others  declaring  that  they  have  passed  beyond  the  need  of  human 
direction,  and  have  been  taken  to  heaven  and  given  visions  of  the 
future,  and  of  God’s  plans  for  South  America,  there  is  in  the  move- 
ment real  spiritual  power  of  a kind  quite  new  in  our  South  American 
work.  Other  members  of  the  mission  and  our  American  consul  at 
Valparaiso  unite  in  cabling  and  writing  that  the  conduct  of  the  meet- 
ings is  discreditable  to  us  as  a mission  and  harmful  to  the  work  of 
God.  The  secular  papers  condemn  the  proceedings  in  unsparing  terms, 
as  such  papers  usually  do.  One  cablegram  informed  us  that  Brother 
Hoover  had  been  given  some  kind  of  sentence  by  the  court,  which 
sentence  was  held  in  abeyance  pending  an  appeal  to  the  bishop  and 
the  Board. 

While  it  is  very  certain  that  there  Isnnore  or  less  of  wildfire  in  these 
gatherings,  the  reports  read  very  much  like  accounts  of  early  Methodist 
revivals.  There  is  scarcely  a feature  of  the  services  as  reported  which 
could  not  be  duplicated  in  our  revivals  in  India,  Korea,  and  China. 

John  L.  Reeder,  our  representative  in  Punta  Arenas  beyond  the  53d 
parallel  of  south  latitude,  on  the  shores  of  the  Strait  of  Magellan, 
has  been  doing  heroic  work  for  the  Board  during  the  year.  Some 
way  should  be  found  for  giving  him  encouragement  in  the  struggle 
which  he  is  putting  forth  to  secure  adequate  property  for  our  church, 
and  for  a missionary  and  wife  to  preach  in  it.  Largely  with  funds 
which  he  has  raised  on  the  field,  and  often  with  labor  performed  by  his 
own  hands,  he  has  bought  sites  and  built  two  Methodist  churches  for 
us  in  that  southermost  city  occupied  by  Methodism.  A grant  of  $1,000 
to  help  him  furnish  his  parsonage  and  to  finish  his  church,  would  be 
timely. 


Bolivia : 

The  work  in  Bolivia  though  within  the  Chile  Conference  has  a sepa- 
rate financial  budget.  Brother  Schilling  has  been  in  charge  as  district 
superintendent  since  the  early  part  of  the  summer,  and  reports  favor- 
ably as  to  the  possibilities  of  our  work  in  that  great  republic.  After 
much  delay  the  government  has  paid  one  half  of  its  subvention  to  the 
schools,  and  there  is  every  hope  that  the  remainder  will  be  forthcom- 
ing before  the  end  of  the  year  if  we  have  the  proper  quota  of  teachers 
employed.  Brother  Schilling  has  taken  a new  hall  for  use  as  a church, 
is  preaching  in  it  in  German,  English,  and  Spanish  almost  every  night 
to  steadily  increasing  audiences,  and  is  deriving  from  these  congrega- 
tions a steadily  increasing  measure  of  financial  support. 

Bolivia  received  last  year,  $5,000;  they  ask  this  year,  $6,746.  Chile 
received  last  year  for  the  work,  $23,175;  asked  this  year  for  the  work. 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


7 

$33,497;  for  new  property,  $4,918;  total  $38,415,  which  is  an  increase 
for  the  work  of  $10,322;  total  increase,  $15,240. 

Eastern  South  America 

The  year  1909  has  been  one  of  harmony  and  of  steady  advance 
throughout  the  work  in  Eastern  South  America.  A great  loss  was 
inflicted  on  the  mission  by  the  death  of  Brother  George  P.  Howard, 
our  acting  treasurer.  He  died  while  on  a trip  for  his  health  in 
England.  He  was  a faithful  man.  By  the  appointment  of  last  Con- 
ference, Dr.  Drees  takes  the  district  superintendency  in  Uruguay,  and 
the  pastorate  of  our  very  important  McCabe  Memorial  Church  in 
Montevideo.  Great  things  are  expected  of  his  administration  of  our 
promising  work  in  that  republic. 

A first-class  man  has  been  found  during  the  year  and  put  in  charge 
of  our  work  in  Paraguay,  the  Rev.  E.  A.  Brinton,  from  Iowa.  Ex- 
cellent reports  have  already  reached  the  office  of  the  way  he  is  taking 
hold  of  his  new  duties.  Another  new  recruit  during  the  year  is  the 
Rev.  George  P.  Howard,  son  of  the  brother  whose  death  we  mourn.  He 
has  been  appointed  to  the  charge  of  our  work  in  Mercedes,  and  began 
preaching  in  Spanish  the  first  month  after  his  arrival. 

During  the  year  the  new  Spanish  church  in  Rosario  has  been  com- 
pleted and  occupied,  the  old  church  property  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
applied  to  liquidating  the  loan  from  the  Board.  Our  work  in  that  great 
city  was  never  on  as  good  a basis  as  it  is  to-day.  Dr.  Tallon  writes 
very  enthusiastically  of  the  outlook. 

This  Conference  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $52,592;  asked 
this  year  for  the  work,  $91,486;  for  new  property,  $46,642;  a total 
asking  of  $138,128.  ,, 

CHINA 

Foochow 

In  the  Foochow  Conference  we  are  on  historic  ground.  It  was 
here  that  Judson  D.  Collins  and  Moses  C.  White  planted  the  flag  of 
Methodism  among  the  Chinese  in  1847.  It  was  here  that  Bishop  Wiley 
began  his  missionary  career,  and  where  his  body  sleeps  until  the  great 
awakening.  There  are  20,000  Methodist  Christians  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Foochow  Conference,  nearly  one  half  of  the  membership  of 
our  church  in  China.  Our  oldest,  if  not  our  largest,  institution  of 
higher  education  is  located  in  Foochow — the  Anglo-Chinese  College. 
Some  increase  must  soon  be  made  in  property  and  in  our  Mission 
staff  in  order  to  meet  the  conditions  which  confront  us  there  to-day. 

In  all  the  Foochow  District,  with  a population  of  5,000,000  people 
(including  the  city  of  Foochow  and  suburbs,  with  1,000,000  people), 
but  one  missionary  (and  he  burdened  with  the  cares  incident  to  the 
treasurership  of  the  mission)  is  engaged  in  evangelistic  work ! One 
entire  prefecture  of  the  province,  Yengping,  with  a population  of 
2,000,000,  has  been  assigned  to  our  church,  and  in  that  territory  we 


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Survey  of  the  Fields 


have  one  American  missionary  evangelist.  In  some  parts  of  the 
province  our  church  membership  is  increasing  so  fast  that  it  is  a 
physical  impossibility  for  our  missionaries  to  keep  control  of  the  situa- 
tion, and  we  are  in  great  danger  of  a spurious  Christianity  and  a reac- 
tion to  heathenism  if  we  do  not  reenforce  our  work  there. 

Four  boarding  schools  for  boys  in  the  province  demand  the  strength 
and  time  of  a number  of  our  workers.  They  are  turning  out  into 
life  a steady  stream  of  young  men  with  a solid  foundation  in  scholar- 
ship, and  from  these  schools  a steady  procession  of  select  students 
pass  into  the  college  in  Foochow.  With  an  increase  of  missionaries 
more  houses  will  be  needed.  The  Board  is  in  duty  bound  to  furnish 
a decent  home  for  every  family  sent  to  the  field.  The  Conference 
shared  in  the  results  of  the  great  revival  which  broke  out  in  Hinghwa 
early  in  the  year.  An  organized  attempt  will  be  made  to  carry  for- 
ward this  evangelistic  work. 

The  Conference  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $28,325 ; asked  this 
year  for  the  work,  $50,300 ; for  new  property,  $32,692 ; total  asking, 
$82,992.  This  would  give  an  increase  for  the  work  of  $21,975,  and  a 
total  increase  of  $54,667. 

Hinghwa 

This  is  our  youngest  Conference  in  China.  But  a few  years  ago  it 
was  a circuit,  then  a district,  then  a Mission  Conference,  and  in  1908 
an  Annual  Conference.  The  Board  maintains  here  but  seven  mission- 
aries. There  were  reported  last  year  3,627  members  and  2,048  pro- 
bationers, making  a total  of  5,675.  Of  all  the  reports  of  widespread 
revival  that  have  reached  the  office  from  any  part  of  China  the  most 

remarkable  come  this  year  from  this  Conference.  Dr.  William 

N.  Brewster  has  prepared  a booklet  entitled  A Modern  Pentecost  in 
South  China,  describing  the  great  revival  which  lasted  through  nearly 
three  months  in  Hinghwa  City.  The  most  encouraging  fact  about 
this  great  work  of  grace  was  that  it  began  in  the  heart  of  the  Chinese 
pastor  of  our  church  in  Hinghwa.  He  became  so  burdened  for  a 

revival  that  he  spent  two  successive  days  in  prayer  and  fasting.  The 

prayer  was  with  closed  doors,  and  the  fasting  seen  only  of  the  Father, 
but  the  recompense  was  open  and  abundant.  One  of  the  students  in 
the  Biblical  School,  who  had  been  present  at  a six  o’clock  meeting  on 
Good  Friday  morning  and  had  been  greatly  burdened  in  prayer,  rose 
and  said  he  had  a confession  to  make.  As  treasurer  of  the  committee 
on  entertainment  of  the  District  Conference,  he  had  twenty  cents  left 
over  after  all  bills  were  paid,  and  he  had  not  turned  it  back  to  the 
pastor.  He  said  he  would  get  this  money  as  soon  as  possible  and 
give  it  to  the  church.  His  confession  and  restitution  stirred  many  con- 
sciences. Services  were  announced  for  six  o’clock  the  next  morning. 
The  interest  grew  until  it  was  necessary  to  prolong  the  services 
throughout  the  day.  Before  Saturday,  without  any  announcement 
except  the  opening  of  the  church  and  the  lighting  of  the  lamps  for 
evening  service,  the  crowds  increased  until  they  filled  the  building. 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


9 


During  the  second  week  one  of  the  most  earnest  members  of  the  church 
in  Hinghwa  City,  a successful  business  man,  who  had  been  in  great- 
distress  for  several  days,  expressed  the  fear  that  he  had  committed  the 
unpardonable  sin.  It  soon  came  out  that  he  and  his  companions  had 
in  stock  over  a dozen  bottles  of  morphine,  brought  in  before  the  pro- 
hibition of  its  importation.  The  original  cost  was  about  $6o.  The 
present  commercial  value  was  not  less  than  three  times  that  sum. 
They  were  planning  to  use  it  in  so-called  “opium-cure  pills.”  The 
deadly  character  of  the  drug  in  this  capacity  was  not  fully  understood 
by  them.  When  the  nature  of  this  sin  was  pointed  out,  this  penitent 
man  went  at  once  to  see  his  partners,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  pro- 
fessing Christians,  and  in  less  than  two  hours  their  entire  stock  of  this 
drug,  along  with  a lot  of  American  and  English  cigarettes,  were 
brought  to  the  church  and  turned  over  to  the  pastor  to  be  destroyed. 
Many  others  confessed  sins  and  profound  conviction  rested  upon 
the  people.  The  revival  that  followed  spread  like  fire  in  dry  stubble. 
Students,  teachers,  men,  and  women  met  together  and  prayed  for 
hours  and  received  great  blessing.  By  far  the  greater  majority  of  those 
participating  in  the  revival  were  members  of  the  church  who  had  fallen 
into  more  or  less  condemnation.  Bishop  Lewis  and  Bishop  Bashford 
both  participated  in  these  services. 

Morning  after  morning  the  temporary  structure  in  which  they  met 
would  be  filled  with  from  two  to  four  thousand  eager  worshipers 
before  the  six  o’clock  service  began.  The  conversions  were  clear; 
the  testimony  ringing  with  power,  and  the  whole  city  was  stirred  to 
its  depths.  Converts  carried  the  good  news  to  outlying  cities  and 
towns.  Chinese  preachers  from  Foochow  came  to  see  the  bush  burn 
and  carry  the  flame  back  to  their  own  congregations.  This  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  proves  once  more  the  truth  that  we  read  in  the  Word  of 
God,  “It  is  not  by  might  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the 
Lord.”  Hinghwa  must  have  financial  relief  this  year,  if  it  is  possible 
to  compass  such  a thing. 

They  received  last  year,  $12,200;  asked  this  year  for  the  work, 
$24,877;  for  new  property,  $10,800;  total,  $35,677;  an  increase  for  the 
work  of  $12,677 ; total  increase,  $23,477. 

Central  China 

The  Central  China  Mission  stretches  along  the  Yangtse  River  a 
distance  of  nearly  three  hundred  miles,  and  from  our  stations  in  this 
stretch  of  “the  Mississippi  Valley”  of  China,  30,000,000  of  people  can 
be  reached.  It  is  the  great  commercial  area  of  China.  Railroads  and 
other  modern  conveniences  are  coming.  Food,  labor,  land,  and  supplies 
are  increasingly  expensive.  All  this  reacts  upon  the  expense  of  carry- 
ing forward  our  missionary  work. 

Our  great  hospital  at  Nanking,  our  university  at  that  point,  now 
being  united  with  the  colleges  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Disciple 
Churches,  our  medical  work  and  hospital  at  Nanchang,  William  Nast 


lO 


~jLji^  f'-  f~'  S^  f 

Survey  of  the 


College  at  Kiukiang,  and  the  hospital  in  Wuhu,  form  a part  of  the  great  S’/U^TT: 
chain  of  effort  which  the  Board  is  trying  to  carry  forward  in  that  '>t.vj " 
part  of  the  empire.  /"X/* 

Central  China  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $40,635 ; they  ask 
this  year  for  the  work,  $47,000;  for  new  property,  $24,100;  a total  ^gf 

asking  of  $71,100;  increase  for  the  work,  $6,365;  total  increase,  $30,465.  ; 

North  China 


In  North  China  we  are  at  the  center  of  the  political  influences  which 
control  the  destinies  of  the  empire.  With  great  wisdom  and  courage 
our  missionaries  occupied  Peking  in  the  day  of  small  things,  and  we 
have  cause  to  thank  God  for  the  faith  which  led  them  there.  There 
we  have  our  great  Peking  University,  which  during  a long  career  has  re- 
flected nothing  but  credit  upon  the  Board  which  has  founded  and 
maintained  it.  The  importance  of  sustaining  our  work  in  the  line 
of  Christian  education  at  this  crisis  in  the  development  of  China  can- 
not be  overestimated.  Changes  so  complete  and  on  so  vast  a scale 
have  never  been  approximated  in  the  history  of  the  world.  A homo- 
geneous race  of  400,000,000  as  by  one  impulse  turns  completely  about 
and  with  determination  faces  a new  future.  It  is  to  be  doubted  if  a 
parallel  has  been  afforded  to  the  situation  which  confronts  us  in  China, 
since  the  beginning  of  Christian  history.  Our  church  must  not  lose 
this  great  opportunitj'. 

In  common  with  our  other  missions  in  China  they  are  in  desperate 
need  of  missionary  houses.  In  Peking  there  are  three  families  with 
only  one  house  for  their  use.  There  is  no  residence  for  Bishop  Bash- 
ford.  He  has  had  to  use  one  room  in  one  of  the  missionary  residences, 
and  one  room  in  the  university  for  his  library.  It  is  almost  an  im- 
possibility to  rent  a house  in  Peking.  It  would  be  absolutely  so  near 
our  own  mission  headquarters. 

The  Southern  City  of  Peking  is  a large  city  in  itself — five  miles  long 
by  two  in  width — and  contains  all  the  business  section  of  the  city. 
With  the  exception  of  one  small  place,  ours  is  the  only  mission  with 
work  in  that  part  of  Peking.  We  were  ten  years  in  getting  our  first 
foothold  there,  and  now  own  three  of  the  most  desirable  centers  of 
the  city.  The  site  on  Front  Street  has,  perhaps,  no  equal  in  the  empire 
for  street  chapel  work. 

Our  needs  in  Tientsin  are  great.  Our  services  at  Ching  Hsien  are 
being  held  in  an  old  building  which  was  used  for  a Boxer  temple  in 
1900.  Last  winter  there  was  a wonderful  work  of  grace  in  the  city 
of  Tientsin.  A new  church  on  North  Main  Street  would  add  fifty  per 
cent  to  the  working  power  of  our  force  there. 

We  are  attempting  to  do  hospital  work  in  Tai  An.  The  need  for  a 
hospital  is  desperate.  Last  Chinese  New  Year  Dr.  Ensign  moved  the 
hospital  into  an  old  two-story  Chinese  house.  Four  little  rooms, 
averaging  10x14  in  size,  constitute  the  entire  ward  space.  It  is  im- 
possible to  expand  without  a larger  plant.  Patients  have  to  be  turned 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


II 


'PieiyiAJL  ’ 

away  almost  every  day.  Thousands  of  pilgrims  pass  the  door  of  this 
hospital  every  spring,  on  their  way  to  the  Sacred  Mountain.  Dr.- 
Fyke  writes  that  it  is  manifest  to  every  observing  person  of  long  resi- 
dence in  China  that  this  is  a peculiar  opportunity  for  evangelization 
on  a large  scale  throughout  the  empire.  “People  are  everywhere  turn- 
ing from  the  past  and  facing  the  future.  They  are  asking  for  some- 
thing new  and  better — new  schools,  new  methods,  new  text-books  on 

new  branches  of  learning.  Newspapers  are  multiplied  and  people  are 
^.reading  as  never  before.  Public  lecture  halls  are  numerous  where 
science,  politics,  and  religion  are  discussed  openly  and  freely.  During 
the  past  year  our  chapels  have  had  more  hearers,  especially  in  Peking 
and  Tientsin,  than  in  any  previous  year.  The  hearers  have  been  far 

yC>#<.£»-vCy 

more  intelligent  and  attentive  and  have  remained  longer.  In  two 
of  our  Peking  chapels  nearly  one  thousand  have  enrolled  their  names 
as  inquirers,  while  several  hundreds  were  enrolled  in  Tientsin.  Bishop 
Bashford  remarked,  after  preaching  in  the  great  Front  Street  chapel 
to  an  audience  that  crowded  the  place,  ‘We  might  easily  have  ten 

'L'l^  ^ 

.A 

more  such  places  in  Peking  if  we  had  the  money  and  the  men.’  ” 
North  China  received  for  the  work  last  year,  $53,300;  they  ask  for 
this  year,  $76,571;  for  new  property,  $44,150;  total  asking,  $120,721; 
increase  for  the  work,  $23,271 ; total  increase,  $67,421. 

i 

’ 1 

West  China 

In  West  China  we  are  dealing  .with  a people  who  bear  the  same 
relation  to  the  empire,  as  a whole,  that  the  peoples  of  our  Rocky 

Y 

Mountain  and  Pacific  Coast  states  bear  to  the  populations  of  the  older 
sections  of  our  country.  The  people  who  live  in  West  China  are 

1 

UijuJini 

either  immigrants  from  eastern  sections  of  the  empire  or  their  descend- 
ants, and,  in  contact  with  the  large  opportunities  of  that  great  and 
fertile  province,  they  have  developed  an  independence  of  spirit  and 
breadth  of  vision  which  are  not  always  found  in  the  older  types  from 
the  East.  Therefore  a more  ready  hearing  is  given  by  them  to  our 
message  than  is  accorded  it  in  some  other  parts  of  China. 

/ Our  medical  work  at  Chungking  is  on  a self-supporting  basis,  thanks 

f , 

^ 1 

Ito  the  indomitable  efforts  of  Dr.  McCartney  and  Dr.  Freeman,  while 
^Dr.  Canright  has  built  up  a great  medical  plant  in  Chengtu.  Un- 
f fortunately,  the  new  plant  is  not  yet  entirely  paid  for.  A debt  of 
$6,000  rests  upon  the  building  and  should  be  discharged  at  the  earliest 
l^moment.  From  every  part  of  the  Conference  come  reports  of  revival. 

Ji'^ 

Converts  are  added  steadily.  Our  institution  of  higher  education 
' at  Chengtu  has  been  united  with  other  institutions  located  at  that 
point,  and  thus  far  the  united  effort  has  run  well. 

\ 

The  attention  of  the  General  Committee  should  be  called  distinctly 
and  clearly  to  the  very  embarrassing  financial  situation  in  this  mission. 

, 

While  comparisons  may  not  always  be  pleasant,  it  seems  to  be  my  duty 
to  bring  to  your  attention  a few  comparative  statements  that  you 
may  see  what  great  hardship  is  being  endured  by  our  workers  in  West 

12 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


■0^ 


/ 


China.  The  figures  given  are  taken  from  the  official  redistribution 
sheets  of  1909. 

With  23  missionaries  and  6,307  members  and  probationers,  North 
China  received  $53,300  last  year;  while  West  China,  with  17  mis- 
sionaries and  3,159  members  and  probationers,  received  $18,340 — or 
practically  one  third  as  much.  Central  China,  with  19  missionaries  and 
1,618  members  and  probationers,  received  $40,635,  and  West  China, 
with  17  missionaries  and  3,159  members,  received  $18,340. 

After  fully  providing  for  the  salaries,  children’s  allowance  and  rent 
of  the  missionary  force  in  North  China  last  year  a balance  of  $14,763 
was  left  for  the  other  work  of  the  Mission,  and  Central  China  had 
$14,270  over  and  above  the  sum  needed  to  pay  the  workers  sent  by  the 
Board.  But  West  China  had  only  $18,340,  and  17  missionaries  and  their 
children  had  to  be  supported  by  this  sum,  and  this  left  but  $1,500  for 
all  the  evangelistic,  educational,  and  medical  work  of  the  Mission,  as 
well  as  for  repairs,  taxes,  incidental  expenses,  and  passage. 

None  of  the  men  could  have  personal  teachers,  while  missionaries  in 
at  least  two  other  Conferences  in  China  are  furnished  with  these  helps 
for  the  mastery  of  the  Chinese  tongue.  West  China  must  have  relief, 
and  that  relief  cannot  tarry. 

The  same  inequality  appears  whether  one  looks  at  the  educational. 


evangelistic  work,  or  medical  work,  salaries  of 
other  item  in  the  entire  list  of  appropriations, 
to  those  of  us  under  whose  eye  the  correspondence 


missionaries,  or  any 
It  is  perfectly  clear 
is  constantly 


passing  that  West  China  must  have  relief,  and  must  have  it  this  year. 
The  question  of  where  that  relief  is  to  come  from  is  the  one  detail 
yet  to  be  worked  out. 

The  amount  received  last  year  for  the  work  was  $18,340;  they  ask 
this  year  for  the  work,  $32,158;  for  new  property,  $20,000;  total, 
$52,158.  This  shows  an  increase  for  the  work  of  $13,818;  total  increase, 
$33,818 

EUROPE 


North  Germany 

In  North  Germany  the  year  has  witnessed  a -steady  and  healthful 
growth.  Nearly  all  the  current  expenses,  house  rent,  halls,  interest  on 
property,  are  paid  by  the  local  churches.  They  only  ask  the  salaries 
of  missionaries,  rent  for  four  district  superintendents,  and  certain 
other  items  for  the  work  in  Vienna,  Hungary,  Berlin,  Chemnitz,  and 
Flemsburg.  The  Finance  Committee  say:  “We  long  for  the  day  when 
we  shall  be  able  to  declare  that  we  can  support  ourselves,  but  this 
day  is  not  yet  come,  but  it  will  come  certainly.  At  present  we  must 
lay  the  foundation  for  it.” 

During  the  year  1,379  members  have  been  added.  A very  large 
number  of  those  who  find  Christ  at  our  altars  continue  as  members 
of  the  state  church ; therefore  a large  share  of  the  success  of  our  work 
in  Germany,  and  in  Europe  generally,  cannot  appear  in  any  statistical 


Survey  of  the  Fields  13 

form.  The  plea  of  the  Finance  Committee  for  some  help  on  their 
church  debts  is  a very  urgent  one. 

The  work  in  Hungary  is  to  be  organized  as  a separate  mission  pur- 
suant to  the  action  of  the  General  Conference.  A very  urgent  plea  is 
incorporated  in  the  letter  accompanying  the  estimates,  for  a grant  of 
at  least  $500  for  tract  literature. 

North  Germany  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $17,000;  extension 
of  work  in  Hungary,  $1,580;  total  $18,580.  Asked  for  1910,  $20,000; 
for  work  in  Austria  Hungary,  $3,425 ; total,  $23,425 ; increase  for  the 
work,  $3,000;  for  Hungary,  $1,845;  total  increase,  $4,845. 

South  Germany 

The  Finance  Committee  say:  “We  look  back  upon  a very  successful 
year.  Our  net  gain  in  membership  amounts  to  almost  500 — the  largest 
annual  addition  in  the  history  of  the  Conference.  This  increase  would 
be  larger  if  we  had  proper  church  buildings  in  our  towns  and  cities. 
The  fact  that  we  have  to  content  ourselves  with  small  and  very  often 
utterly  inadequate  rented  halls,  annually  keeps  hundreds  of  persons, 
who  have  been  converted  in  our  revivals,  from  joining  our  church. 
But,  nevertheless,  we  have  the  best  prospects,  and  look  into  the  future 
cheerfully.  Everywhere  doors  are  open  for  us,  and  we  are  bearing 
the  banners  of  Methodism  to  victory.” 

The  total  membership  in  South  Germany  has  grown  to  12,289.  There 
are  76  circuits  with  515  preaching  places;  95  pastors  and  4 assistants 
who  receive  salaries  are  laboring  with  assistance  of  129  local  preachers 
and  368  exhorters.  The  debts  on  their  church  property  amount  to 
about  one  third  of  the  total  value.  During  the  year  35,973  marks 
were  paid  on  church  debts.  The  average  salary  of  our  preachers  in 
the  Conference  is  between  $400  and  $500.  They  ask  that  they  shall 
receive  for  the  work  not  less  than  last  year,  and  that  an  appropriation 
be  made  them  for  paying  off  debts,  as  large  as  it  possibly  can  be  made. 

South  Germany  received  last  year,  $19,721. 

Martin  Mission  Institute : 

Bishop  Burt  very  urgently  recommends  that  an  increase  of  at  least 
$100  be  made  in  the  grant  for  Martin  Mission  Institute.  Brother 
Bucher  is  passing  through  the  period  when  his  children  are  being  edu- 
cated, and  very  urgently  needs  this  slight  addition  to  his  support. 

He  received  last  year,  $1,000. 

Switzerland 

The  last  year  has  been  one  of  healthful  growth.  Seven  hundred  and 
forty-nine  have  joined  the  church  on  probation  and  558  have  been 
received  into  full  connection.  The  net  gain  was  very  much  smaller: 
in  full  members — only  228.  A gain  is  reported  in  Sunday  school 
scholars  of  $1,240.  There  are  now  22,245  scholars  in  our  Sunday 
schools  and  we  have  9,576  members  and  probationers.  New  church 
buildings  are  being  erected  in  Zurich  and  several  other  cities.  The 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


t4 

new  church  in  Zurich  is  located  in  a densely  populated  district  where 
anarchists  and  Socialists  predominate. 

Switzerland  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $7,500;  interest  on 
Lausanne  debt,  $35 ; total  $7,535-  They  ask  this  year  for  the  work, 
$7,000;  Church  debts,  $500;  Lucerne  Chapel  Building,  $2,000;  Zurich 
III  Chapel  Building,  $2,000;  Interest  Lausanne  debt,  $100;  total, 
$11,600;  increase,  $7,535. 

Sweden 

Our  work  in  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Denmark  has  had  a year  of 
great  blessing.  In  Sweden  nearly  $7,000  has  been  raised  for  foreign 
mission  work,  largely  for  the  support  of  Swedish  missionaries  in 
various  parts  of  the  world.  Collections  for  foreign  missions  in  all 
the  churches  and  Sunday  schools  show  a most  gratifying  increase. 
There  are  17,651  members  and  probationers.  Their  offerings  for  self- 
support  are  large  in  proportion  to  their  ability  to  give.  Sweden  has 
suffered  this  year  from  a widespread  strike  and  lockout.  Every  part 
of  the  work  has  felt  the  pinch  of  hard  times  in  consequence,  as  a large 
number  of  our  membership  belong  to  the  working  classes.  Salaries 
have  been  diminished  and  thousands  have  been  without  work. 

The  theological  school  is  increasing  steadily,  and  although  the 
expenses  are  greater  this  year  than  last,  they  do  not  venture  to  ask 
more  help. 

Sweden  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $14,470;  for  theological 
school,  $1,500;  interest,  $125;  total,  $16,095.  Asked  for  1910  for  the 
work,  $14,610;  theological  school,  $1,500;  interest,  $125;  total,  $16,235; 
increase,  $140. 

Norway 

The  work  in  Norway  and  Denmark  goes  steadily  forward  in  the 
face  of  great  odds,  and  calls  for  our  continued  sympathy  and  support. 

Norway  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $12,055  > theological  school, 
$500;  total,  $12,555.  Asked  for  1910  for  the  work,  $12,174;  theological 
school,  $500;  total,  $12,674;  increase,  $119. 

Denmark 

Denmark  received  for  the  work  last  year,  $7,960;  asked  for  1910, 
$10,394;  increase,  $2,434. 

Finland  and  Saint  Petersburg 

Our  work  in  Russia  this  year  has  been  marked  by  an  important 
advance.  By  the  joint  effort  of  Bishop  Burt  and  Dr.  Simons,  our 
superintendent,  Methodism  has  been  allowed  to  incorporate  under  the 
laws  of  Russia.  This  gives  us  a legal  status  in  that  great  empire. 
The  importance  of  this  victory  is  very  great.  New  churches  have 
been  built.  Interviews  have  been  had  with  the  highest  officials,  and  from 
every  city  which  our  work  has  touched  comes  the  word  of  men  and 
women  feeling  after  God  if  haply  they  may  find  him.  When  one  con- 
siders the  potentialities  of  this  nation,  and  the  part  which  it  is  to 


Survey  of  the  Fields 


IS 

play  in  the  world-struggle  of  the  future,  it  is  impossible  to  rest  satis- 
fied with  the  very  meager  provision  which  this  Board  is  making 
for  the  prosecution  of  its  work  there.  Instead  of  having  but  one 
missionary  in  Russia  we  should  send  this  year  at  least  two  of  the 
choicest  spirits  selected  from  our  ministry,  and  as  many  each  year  until 
we  have  a force  of  twenty-five  picked  men  at  work. 

Finland  and  Saint  Petersburg  received  last  year  for  the  work 
$9,348;  asked  for  1910  for  the  work,  $13,560;  for  supplementary  items, 
$14,725,  of  which  $12,000  are  for  new  property  and  new  work;  total 
asking,  $28,285. 

Bulgaria 

The  removal  of  the  headquarters  of  the  mission  to  Sofia  has  been 
attended  by  considerable  expense,  but  seems  to  be  justified  by  the 
results  of  the  year.  We  are  compelled  to  rent  a hall  for  our  worship, 
paying  about  $6  for  each  Sunday,  for  preaching  and  Sunday  school. 
Current  events  in  Bulgaria  are  shaping  themselves  toward  larger  op- 
portunities for  Protestantism.  The  only  tolerant  nations  in  that 
part  of  the  world  to-day  are  Turkey  and  Bulgaria.  Roumania,  Servia, 
and  Montenegro  are  all  arrayed  against  evangelistic  influences.  Greece 
will  not  permit  even  a Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  to  come 
within  her  borders.  The  only  candlestick  in  all  the  Balkan  States  in 
which  to  put  the  light  of  the  Lord  is  Bulgaria.  This  state  has  now 
become  independent.  A new  epoch  has  begun.  This  is  the  time  for 
a forward  movement.  Our  people  have  entered  with  enthusiasm  into 
the  scheme  of  erecting  a building  at  Pleven.  We  have  a lot  finely 
located,  but  our  building  is  utterly  inadequate.  The  room  we  have 
is  overflowing  with  listeners  and  people  have  to  be  turned  away. 
Already  they  have  pledged  to  raise  2,000  francs.  They  expect  another 
five  thousand  from  friends.  Some  eager  members  have  already  hauled 
the  stones  for  the  building  and  piled  them  in  quantities  along  the 
street.  Two  notifications  to  remove  the  stones  or  go  ahead  with  the 
building  have  reached  our  superintendent.  Considerable  effort  at  self- 
support  has  been  put  forth  during  the  year.  A parsonage  has  been 
completed  at  Varna,  at  a total  expenditure  of  15,000  francs. 

Bulgaria  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $9,500;  they  ask  this  year, 
$18,449,  of  which  $7,378  is  for  new  property;  increase,  $8,949. 

France 

Our  work  in  France  has  been  confronted  by  great  difficulties.  The 
support  we  are  giving  it  is  utterly  inadequate,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a 
solid  increase  may  be  made  in  the  support  granted  the  work  in  that 
great  republic  until  we  have  a force  there  that  can  make  an  impression 
on  a country  which  seems  to  be  losing  its  hold  on  religion  altogether. 
The  evangelistic  possibilities  in  France  and  Russia  loom  ever  more 
large  as  we  work  among  their  people. 

France  received  last  year  for  the  work,  $5,957;  asked  for  1910, 
$9,000;  increase,  $3,043. 


